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D'Addario XSAPB1253 Phosphor Bronze Coated Acoustic Guitar Strings - .012-.053 Light (3-pack)

.012-.053 Light Gauge Coated Acoustic Guitar Strings, Phosphor Bronze - 3-pack
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D'Addario XSAPB1253 Phosphor Bronze Coated Acoustic Guitar Strings - .012-.053 Light (3-pack)
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Thinly Coated for Long-lasting Great Tone

D'Addario is on a mission to create the finest coated acoustic strings the world has ever seen. One such result of that labor, the XS Phosphor Bronze series acoustic strings feature an NY Steel hexagonal core with a wrap wire of phosphor bronze to deliver balanced warmth and enhanced harmonic content that span the entire neck. Not only that, but XS Phosphor Bronze acoustic guitar strings feature an ultra-thin film coating for added protection against sweat and grime. This coating give the strings long-lasting great tone — some of the longest lasting in the D'Addario catalog — and dramatically extended playtime between string swaps. And if you ask us, they feel great under the fingers, too. You also get D'Addario's Fusion Twist technology and digitally controlled winding for increased tuning stability and 1:1 consistency from set to set. Sweetwater players agree: if you're looking for D'Addario coated acoustic strings that sound great and give you double-digit hours of playtime between sets, XS Phosphor Bronzes are a clear winner.

Ultra-thin film coating

D'Addario has gone to great lengths to ensure every string in every pack of XS Phosphor Bronze stays true to the iconic D'Addario tone. The secret is a unbelievably thin coating that preserves tone, above all, but also reduces squeaks and resists fraying. This coating not only gives you longer string life, but also a comfortable feel on the fingers so you can play your best all night long.

Superb long-lasting tone in every pack

D'Addario XS Phosphor Bronze aren't your ordinary coated acoustic strings. Both the wound strings and plain steels feature a groundbreaking thin film coating to maximize tone and extend string life from top to bottom. This eliminates the awkward stage common to other coated strings where your bottom strings far outlast your top strings. From chords to leads, and from stage to studio, you'll sound your best strung up with D'Addario XS Phosphor Bronze strings.

Hex-core wounds, Fusion Twist steels

Inside each roundwound string in each XS Phosphor Bronze set is a NY Steel hexagonal core — the same as you'll find on a set of your favorite NYXLs or XTs. This angular core gives the wrap wire more surface to grab on to, yielding better tone and intonation. Plain steels in the XS Phosphor Bronze sets feature D'Addario's Fusion Twist technology. This process prevents slack in the twist, resulting in greater resistance against detuning and breaking.

D’Addario: innovative strings since 1680

When you go with D’Addario, you receive far more than a great set of strings. You’re benefiting from three centuries of string-making experience. The D’Addario family tradition began in 1680 in the tiny town of Salle, Italy, where they made assorted instrument strings for over 200 years before relocating to New York in 1905. Since then, the D’Addario family has become a leader in string innovation. They designed the modern winding machine, introduced ultra-reliable hexagonal core wires, and pioneered the colored-coded ball end movement. More than 300 years since the family started making strings, D’Addario continues to set a global standard for quality and reliability. And every day, more than 500,000 strings emerge from their USA-based workshops.

D'Addario XS Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings Features:

  • Ultra-thin film coating extends string life between changes
  • Delivers long-lasting great tone
  • Smooth, sleek feel on the fingers
  • Unique polymer treatment on plain steels supplies a natural, protected feel
  • Fusion Twist technology enhances tuning stability
  • NY Steel hex core delivers superior intonation and stability
  • Digitally controlled winding ensures consistency from set to set
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Tech Specs

  • Guitar Type: Acoustic Guitar
  • Number of Sets: 3
  • Number of Strings: 6
  • Coated: XS Coating
  • Gauges: .012, .016p, .024w, .032, .042, .053
  • Core Material: Hexagonal High-carbon Steel
  • Winding Material: Phosphor Bronze
  • Winding Type: Round Wound
  • Manufacturer Part Number: XSAPB1253-3P

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

Great product

Sweetwater always goes above and beyond what is expected. I highly recommend!
Rated 5/5

Music Is Music Play It Well

Good service fast delivery…sound good on my guitar
Rated 5/5

Great strings

Amazing sound I love it. But the best is the Sweetwater team.
Rated 5/5

Definitely Worth a Try

This review is pretty much a copy and paste of the reviews for the same strings, single pack, one review for the six string .012-.053 lights, and the other for the twelve string .010-.047 extra lights. The difference is that since the mid-November review postings, I have the .012-.053 lights on my build-to-order D18 Martin (mahogany body and Adirondack spruce top and braces), which have been on for about a month.

Back in early August I ordered a set of XS PB (.012-.053) for my build-to-order 814c Taylor (rosewood body and Sitka spruce top), and another set of them (.010 - .047) for my K62ce LTD 12 string Taylor (all koa, body and top), just to try them out and compare them to Elixir PB Nanowebs, and to compare them to a host of other strings I've tried through the decades. I didn't write a review of the XS sets soon after installing them because I wanted to see how they'd hold up first. Three and a half months have now passed, which is a little past the point when I typically change strings whether they sound dead or not. Here's the review of the XS. It pertains to both the six string set and the 12 string set.

Durability is excellent: the strings still sound good, feel smooth, and hold tune after 3.5mos. As a plus, I have noticed no fraying of the coating.

Tonal balance between strings is excellent.

Feel is very smooth.

Stability is excellent. Tune 'em up a couple of times immediately after installation and once the next day, and they stay tuned consistently. Of course, they will require tuning now and then, but they are noticeably stable.

While tone is plenty bright, I don't hear the degree of chimey tone the Elixir PB nanowebs have; interestingly enough, this difference is more noticeable on the D18 Martin. Nonetheless, it's a very pleasing, bright tone with rich bottom end.

Total string tension is a couple of pounds under several other sets of the same gauge, including the Elixir PB nanoweb.

I haven't yet tried the XS strings on my 612ce 12 fret Taylor (maple body and Sitka spruce top). So I can't say how the XS will sound with that body style and tonewood combination.

If there's one thing I can conclude from trying a couple of dozen string sets of different gauges and materials, from various manufacturers and on different guitars it's that not every guitar will sound its best with the same string set. Body style/size, tone woods, bracing, playing style and technique, string manufacturing and materials, even application all affect how a string set will perform on a specific instrument for an intended purpose. With regard to application for example, Thomastik-Infeld Spectrum Bronze are great for recording because they're so balanced and fundamental note focused. So my recommendation is to experiment to find what string set sounds best on a particular guitar, for personal application(s) and playing style/technique. It's really interesting and enjoyable, and a great way to learn more about many aspects of something we all include in our lives.
Music background: long time picker
Rated 5/5

These strings Pop!

Put these on a Taylor Koa and they really ring! So I thought, would these liven up my Hummingbird? POW! So now they are on everything. This 3-pack is a good price too.
Music background: Still a beginner…
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